Gaming peripherals are nothing new, as anyone old enough to remember R.O.B., the U-Force or the Sega Activator will point out. However, compared to these archaic gimmicks, the gaming peripherals of today are more than just one-trick ponies designed to line the pockets of creative publishers. Right?

With the gaming industry booming, everyone seeks to develop the next hot title, grab a piece of the spotlight and ride this multi-billion dollar tidal wave to an early retirement. Surprisingly enough, quite a few peripherals are enjoying significant time in the spotlight. Harmonix is certainly cashing in on their admittedly original Guitar Hero series. Now, hot on the heels of its success, comes the next evolution in peripheral gaming: Rockband. What a novel idea, get together a few of your friends, duke it out over who gets to play the drums and, that argument settled, sit down to experience gaming ecstasy.

However, I can’t help but wonder, are these games pushing the industry forward, or forcing it to take a step backward? Arguably, next generation gaming took a chance by pushing the average price point for games beyond the $50 comfort zone. However, the transition has gone relatively smooth, as consumers seem to buy (no pun intended) the argument that you get more for your money in the form of high-definition graphics and deeper gameplay experiences. Still, peripheral-based games push the envelope even further, with games like Rockband setting you back $169.99 (almost console-level pricing) and that isn’t even the most expensive example. Steel Battalion premiered with its incredibly complex controller and an astonishing price tag of $199.99. Further compounding the problem, as we’ve seen with the Guitar Hero series, each new iteration generally heralds a new and improved peripheral controller to enhance your experience. Why rock out on yesterday’s corded guitar when you could be jamming away on that snazzy new wireless one?

Gaming peripherals have such a muddy history because designers fail to realize that a peripheral should enhance gameplay—which (admittedly) the instrument controllers for games like Guitar Hero and Rockband do. Remove the controllers, however, and what are you left with?

A mediocre rhythm game and a lower price tag.

Just like that, the hype is gone and your highly anticipated new release is a bargain-bin joke at Wal-Mart. Games like Guitar Hero and Rockband, while relatively original and creative, rely on hype for good sales numbers. That hype relies not on buzz about the actual gameplay, but on excitement over the controller you use to play the game. Once the hype fizzles, so do sales. Want to impress me with a peripheral? Show me a game that shines on its own—sans peripheral—and then bundle it with something that takes an already good game and transforms it into a must-have classic. Peripherals may line your wallet, but good gameplay trumps all.

Call me a purist, but I’ll take Pac-Man or Centipede over games like Rockband any day. Not getting my point? Chew on this:

Take away the flashy graphics, nifty controllers, licensed music and what are you left with? A revolutionary game where you press colored buttons in sequence with a given pattern. Thank you very much, but I grew bored of Simon in the '80's.